Lexmark International, Inc.

Jason K Young

Steven Wayne Bergstedt

Nicole Marie Rodriguez

Earl L Fugate

A printing apparatus is provided that precisely control the transition of an electrical signal that causes a printing substance to be deposited. In particular, in some embodiments, a circuit is configured to control the application of a firing pulse to a printing element, and the printing element is configured to control the application of a printing substance. The circuit in this embodiment is configured to condition or control the transition of the firing pulse from the first state to the second state such that current through the printing element dissipates to zero over a period of time that is neither too fast nor too slow.

Methods and apparatuses for control of a signal in a printing apparatus

A printing apparatus is provided that precisely control the transition of an electrical signal that causes a printing substance to be deposited. In particular, in some embodiments, a circuit is configured to control the application of a firing pulse to a printing element, and the printing element is configured to control the application of a printing substance. The circuit in this embodiment is configured to condition or control the transition of the firing pulse from the first state to the second state such that current through the printing element dissipates to zero over a period of tine that is neither too fast nor too slow.

Methods and apparatus for control of a signal in a printing apparatus

Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and system to implement a DDR interface, such as a high-speed encode/decode interface. In one embodiment, a method of encoding data comprises the acts of (1) receiving a first signal, a second signal, and a first clock signal common to the first and second signals; (2) detecting rising edges and falling edges of the first clock signal; and (3) generating a composite signal based at least in part on the first and second signals and the detected rising and falling edges. The composite signal is associated with a second clock signal that is generated based at least in part on the detected rising and falling edges and on a time delay relative to the first clock signal.

Method and system to implement a double data rate (DDR) interface

A printing apparatus and related methods are provided that precisely control the transition of an electrical signal that causes a printing substance to be deposited. In particular, in some embodiments, a circuit is configured to control the application of a firing pulse to a printing element, and the printing element is configured to control the application of a printing substance. The circuit in this embodiment is configured to condition or control the transition of the firing pulse from the first state to the second state such that current through the printing element dissipates to zero over a period of time that is neither too fast nor too slow.

An inkjet printhead chip includes electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuits to protect the chip during ESD events, including one preventing a thin dielectric layer on a substrate from breakdown. In one embodiment, the chip includes an ESD circuit essentially dedicated per each actuator. In another, ESD circuits alternate connection between power and ground. In still another, actuators are approximately equidistantly spaced regarding respective ESD circuits. Exemplary ESD circuits include a ballast resistor in series with a diode. In turn, diodes are either forward biased toward power or away from ground. In a thermal inkjet embodiment, a cavitation layer above a resistor and dielectric layer have pluralities of fingers connecting the cavitation layer to a metal buss. The metal buss attaches to the ballast resistors. Protection typically embodies the safe distribution of ESD current to ground during both chip manufacture and user printhead installation. Inkjet printheads and printers are also disclosed.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Jason K Young